Fashion + Beauty
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Do You Wash Before You Wear?
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I hesitated for a second
before I threw on
my new blue sweatshirt. I was dying to wear it,
but I hadn't washed it. I started pondering whether it's
unhygienic to wear something you just bought without laundering it
beforehand. Think about it in terms of bedding at a hotel: Is
wearing clothing that a bunch of people have potentially tried on
at the store the equivalent of staying at a hotel where the sheets
haven't been cleaned? Doesn't that just seem gross?
Maybe it depends on the item? I find that with silk (or anything
dry clean-only) I just put it right on, but with stuff that's
easy to throw in the machine (socks, tees, and, though not apparel,
towels and sheets), I pre-wash. What do you guys do?
Plus, check out our tips and tricks on caring for tough-to-wash
clothing.
More from Lucky:
Related: laundry, clothes. tips
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Posted by Susan Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:54am PDT
I never pre-wash a new garment. In fact, I put off washing it for the first time as long as possible by hanging things up and letting them air out. I love the newness (feel, smell, look) of a new garment, and it never seems quite the same once you wash it. Especially stretchy fitted t-shirts. They seem to lose their close-fit quickly and get loose, even though you would think they would shrink in the dryer. Strange. Plus I don't iron, so once something is washed it doesn't have as crisp a look as when I first bought it.
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Posted by Jezabel Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:07am PDT
It is really not necessary to wash anything for health reason before you wear it as any deadly bacteria from even the most filthy of people is long since dead. Now perhaps if you shop at the salvation army you might want to since those clothes were probably worn and possibly not washed before they were donated. But to be honest, even these are unlikely to get you sick. The only time you need to wash anything is when you are making alterations to cotton clothing (jeans) since they will shrink after the first wash.
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Posted by Rowdygirl Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:09am PDT
It depends on where I buy the item. A discount store I shop at has a distinct odor.. not sure why and it's in ALL their stores. I think it may be from the warehouse, and it's in every store of theirs that I have ever visited. This transfers to the clothing they sell. I wash most items I buy there before washing, especially underwear. Other than that place, I will wear something fresh out of the store because of the "new" look that most items have. They never seem to look that way again after the first washing.
:)
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Posted by boredatwork Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:14am PDT
I always wash new clothes before I wear them! I've seen and heard the way clothes are treated in the backrooms of the stores...
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Posted by simonutts Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:04am PDT
Thats so funny ive never thought about all the people who have tried on the clothes pior to it being bought
but i really can resisit ripping off tags and putting on crisp brand new clothes.
I agree with that one lady i try to hold of washing a garment as long as i can like jeans and jackets
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Posted by Bella Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:11am PDT
I pre-wash clothes I get from Goodwill, or Value-Village ect., but usually not clothes from the mall.
But I try to wear jeans and cashmere for as long as I can, to prevent fading and stretching, so they can last longer.
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Posted by Alexandra Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:30am PDT
Depends on what day of the week I buy something. Sounds weird, but I do laundry on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons, so if I'm not close to those days I just wear it.
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Posted by Shawna P Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:05pm PDT
Yeah, it depends on where I got it from for me too. For some reason I always wash things before wearing them from Marshalls, especially if I got it on clearance. I know that sounds weird but I just think of how long it has been on that hanger for and how many people have tried it on. I know it is all in my head, but it is what it is.
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Posted by Mrs. Carol B Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:01pm PDT
Have to wash everything I buy before I wear it; many allergies to dyes, perfumes. Plus, some things are scratchy if not softened up in the wash. Also, if it shrinks you can return it unworn if you can convince the store you just prewashed it. Just put the tags into a zip lock bag without taking them off the garment and wash as usual.
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Posted by Tina Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:20am PDT
I'm glad this article was written because I thought I was the only one who thought this way.lol. I always wash my clothes after buying it. Some people leave their smell on clothes. Also, if you been to any department store, you will see clothes on the floor in which people step all over.
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